In the famous Hawk low-wing monoplane Mr. and Mrs. Miles had an aeroplane which brought them world-wide recognition as front rank designers and constructors and, although its comparatively low price - £395 - was a contributory factor, there is no doubt that its clean lines appealed to everyone, especially after the long reign of the biplane.
The original Hawk first took the air at dusk on 29th March 1932, piloted by Mr. Miles, and its behaviour was so exemplary that fifty-three pilots - many of them with only a few hours solo experience - flew the machine during the first seven days of its existence, the number rising to over eighty by the end of April! This, in itself, was a most eloquent testimonial to the Hawk's robust design and construction, and docility.
Right from the initial test flight it was obvious that the Hawk was a good aircraft, and features of its design are traceable throughout the earlier Miles machines, particularly in the Magister trainer, which was its ultimate development.
Before going out of production the original Hawk design of which considerable numbers were built, appeared in at least twenty-two different versions, some of which were to purchasers' specifications, while others were normal design developments. The main variations included five different types of power unit - Gipsy III, Gipsy Six, Gipsy Major, Hermes IIB and Cirrus Major "R" engines, with a three-seat model for joy riding, special aerobatic and racing versions and the incorporation of the Miles split trailing-edge flaps, which occurred quite early in the series. Of these developments the most outstanding was the Hawk Trainer.